FORT MYERS, Fla. - FGCU softball and head coach David Deiros announce the hiring of assistant coach Jenna Modic-Blythers from Oakland University to the Eagle Family.
Modic-Blythers arrives in southwest Florida after being in an assistant coach role for Oakland the past four seasons (2019-2022), helping guide the Golden Grizzlies to back-to-back 26 win campaigns, a Horizon League Tournament Championship and a NCAA Regional appearance in 2022.
"We faced Jenna as a hitter back in 2015, so I am really happy that she will be in our dugout now," Deiros said. "She has been a successful coach at each of her previous institutions, and she has helped their offenses improve each year. We have a very young team, so I am confident that her high energy and adaptability will make an immediate impact in our program."
She was the acting head coach during the 2022 Horizon League Tournament. Four Oakland student-athletes were named to the Horizon League All-Tournament Team, including a Tournament MVP and one National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) Third Team All-Region.
In 2021, Oakland broke school records with Modic-Blythers' offensive oversight, setting program records in batting average (.299), in slugging percentage (.450) and in fewest strikeouts (154). The Golden Grizzlies also set the program's all-time best single-season winning percentage (.619) and the most conference wins (23).
Oakland ranked top 50 in the nation in batting average, doubles per game, triples per game and in hit batters in 2021. The Golden Grizzlies captured marquee wins in both 2020 and 2022, defeating Clemson (2020) and Michigan State (2022).
Before Oakland, Modic-Blythers began her coaching career with a two-year stint (2018-19) as an assistant coach for the University of Rochester (NY). Rochester qualified for the Liberty League Tournament both years during her two seasons with the YellowJackets.
She mentored a total of six All-Liberty League selections at Rochester. In 2019, two Rochester student-athletes earned NFCA All-Region honors.
Modic-Blythers graduated from the University of Pittsburgh in 2016, but began her collegiate softball career at Miami (OH) before completing her final two seasons of eligibility for the Panthers.
As a two-way player (pitcher and infielder), she was a two-time All-MAC honoree for the RedHawks. Modic-Blythers was a first team and an all-freshman selection in 2013 and earned second team recognition as a sophomore in 2014.
At Pittsburgh, she was a member of the first Panther softball squad to reach the ACC Championship Game and advance to a NCAA Regional Final (2015). She batted .538 with eight RBIs and two home runs at the NCAA regional.
Modic-Blythers earned Second Team All-ACC nods as a senior for Pitt. She still ranks top-five in Pittsburghs' overall career batting average (.324), in single-season hits (61) and single-season saves (three). Modic-Blythers was a two-time All-ACC honoree, two-time ACC Player of the Week, an All-ACC Academic Team recipient and Third Team All-NFCA while at Pittsburgh.
She held a career 4.26 ERA in the circle for the Panthers, pitching a total of 149.2 innings and striking out 78.
Modic-Blythers is a mother to two sons, Malachi and Noah, and happily married to Marcus Blythers.
FOLLOW ALONG
For up-to-the-minute information on the FGCU softball program, follow on Twitter @FGCU_Softball and Instagram at fgcusoftball and stay tuned at FGCUAthletics.com.
COACH DEIROS
The founding father of FGCU softball, David Deiros completed his 20th season as head coach during the 2022 campaign. Hired in 2001 to build the program from the dirt up, Deiros has since guided the Eagles to a 706-397-3 (.640), going 176-109 (.618) in the ASUN, having 16 seasons with a winning record, and nine campaigns with 35+ wins. Deiros is a former head coach at the 1998 Florida State Runner-up Lely High School in Naples and is the founding head coach of the 1999 District Champion/2001 Regional Runner-up Gulf Coast High School in Naples.
E.A.G.L.E. CAMPAIGN
IT TAKES A TEAM to achieve our newest goal - a $10 million campaign to address student-athlete needs in continued academic success, life skills, mental health, nutrition, and strength and conditioning as well as departmental needs in facility expansion and improvement as well as mentoring and leadership training for coaches and staff. The name embodies our mission and the purpose of the E.A.G.L.E. Campaign - Eagle Athletics Generating Lifetime Excellence. Join Our Team and pledge your gift today to help the Eagles of tomorrow!
#FEEDFGCU
FGCU Athletics sponsors events in November and April to benefit the FGCU Campus Food Pantry (www.fgcu.edu/foodpantry) and the Harry Chapin Food Bank (www.harrychapinfoodbank.org), FGCU Athletics' charities of choice. For more information, including how to make a contribution, please visit www.fgcu.edu/foodpantry and utilize the hashtag #FeedFGCU to help raise awareness.
ABOUT FGCU
FGCU teams have combined to win an incredible 92 conference regular season and tournament titles in just 14+ seasons at the Division I level. Additionally, in just 10 seasons of D-I postseason eligibility, the Eagles have had a combined 44 teams or individuals compete in NCAA championships. Eight FGCU programs have earned a top-25 national ranking in their respective sport - including women's basketball (No. 20, 2021-22), beach volleyball (No. 20, 2022) and both men's soccer (2018, 2019) and women's soccer (2018) as three of the most recent. In 2016-17, the Green and Blue posted a department-best sixth-place finish in the DI-AAA Learfield Directors' Cup and top-100 showing nationally, ahead of several Power-5 and FBS institutions. In 2018-19, the Eagles had an ASUN and state of Florida best seven teams earn the NCAA's Public Recognition Award for their Academic Progress Rate in their sport. FGCU also collectively earned a record 3.50 GPA in the classroom in the fall 2020 semester and has outperformed the general University undergraduate population for 25 consecutive semesters. The past five semesters (Fall 2019 – Fall 2021) each saw another milestone reached as all 15 programs achieved a 3.0-or-higher team GPA in each. The Eagles also served an all-time high 7,200 volunteer hours in 2017 - being recognized as one of two runners-up for the inaugural NACDA Community Service Award presented by the Fiesta Bowl.
